(06.08.2009) A new book co-authored by FNI researchers examines
how Russia defines and addresses northern spaces, opportunities and challenges
within its own borders and internationally.

The geopolitical
interests of Arctic states are a hot topic as climate change and a growing
demand for energy cause greater concern over disputed borders and overlapping
sovereignty claims in the North.

Russia plays a central role in the
international politics of the North, being the largest Arctic state
geographically and an important player in the regional and global energy
marketplace.

Russia and the North examines how Russia defines and
addresses northern spaces, opportunities and challenges within its own borders
and internationally, with chapters analyzing the politics of circumpolar
cooperation, security, fisheries, energy, climate change, population/migration
and indigenous peoples.

The book has beem edited by Elana Wilson Rowe of
the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), and includes major
contributions by researchers from FNI's Russia and Polar Programme:

In his chapter
'Cross-Border
Cooperation in the North: The Case of Northwest Russia', Geir
Hønneland looks at how Northwest Russia, in spite of the military's
strong presence, has been drawn into a network of international, civilian
collaboration with its Nordic neighbours since the end of the Cold War . The
chapter gives a brief overview of the BEAR partnership and the bilateral
cooperation between Russia and Norway on fisheries management, environmental
protection and nuclear safety in the Barents Sea region. The chapter also
discusses the implications of political developments and changing priorities on
the Russian side.

In her chapter
'Recent
Developments in the Russian Fisheries Sector', Anne-Kristin
Jørgensen argues that the Russian fisheries sector has been caught in a
'vicious cycle of reform': A number of major reorganizations since the early
1990s, aimed at improving the sector's performance, have instead resulted in a
gradual loss of valuable expertise. Moreover, the continuous changes in the
legal and institutional framework have caused business actors to focus on
short-term rather than long-term gains, resulting in a very low investment rate
and widespread poaching and overfishing. However, over the last couple of years
the Russian political leadership has given increasing attention to the problems
in the fisheries sector, and some progress has been made, particularly in the
field of law-making.

In their
chapter 'Northern Offshore
Oil and Gas Resources: Policy Challenges and Approaches', FNI's Arild Moe
and NUPI's Elana Wilson Rowe assess the place of northern offshore petroleum
development in the context of overall Russian energy priorities and examine the
evolution of offshore policy and strategy at both the federal and company
levels. The chapter looks first at key developments in recent Russian energy
policy as well as governmental offshore policy development. The offshore
strategies of the two companies likely to play a prominent role in Russian
offshore development, Rosneft and Gazprom, as well as the interactions thus far
between these two companies, are also outlined. Finally, the authors raise and
discuss the question of whether the strategic importance assigned to offshore
petroleum reserves actually is being translated into coordinated, strategic
action and long-term policy thinking.

The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) is an
independent foundation engaged in research on international environmental,
energy, and resource management politics. The Institute maintains a
multi-disciplinary approach, with main emphasis on political science,
economics, and international law.